DHAKA: Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, senior judge of Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC), took oath as the 21st chief justice of Bangladesh on Saturday morning.

President Abdul Hamid administered the oath around 11:00am at Bangabhaban of the city in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, opposition leader Raushan Ershad, outgoing Chief Justice M Mozammel Hossain, former Chief Justices, cabinet member, chief members, chief election commissioner Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmad, Chiefs of three forces, Attorney General Mahbuey Alam and senior lawyers of the Supreme Court were present at swearing-in ceremony. 

Earlier on Monday, SK Sinha was appointed as chief justice. He was replaced by 20th chief justice Mozammel Hossain.

SK Sinha is son of late Lalit Mohan Sinha and mother Dhanabati Sinha of Tilakpur village of Alinagar union under Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar.

He, who obtained LLB degree from University of Chittagong (CU), enrolled his name as an advocate of Sylhet District Judge Court in 1974 and the High Court (HC) Division of SC and Appellate Division in 1978 and 1990 respectively.

Justice SK Sinha is also the incumbent chairman of Judicial Service Commission.

Later, he was appointed to the post of judge of the HC Division on October 24, 1999, and justice of the Appellate Division on August 16, 2009.

BDST: 1132 HRS, JAN 17, 2015